Has a member of your family been a victim of Nursing Home Negligence or Abuse?
One of the most heartbreaking realities in having custody of an elderly parent or loved one is when you realize that you can no longer provide the ongoing care that they need. So you decide it is time to find a nursing home facility that can help relieve the burden. You are hesitant because you’ve often heard horror stories involving nursing home abuse and negligence. You hope that you are making the right choice. Painstakingly, you interview nursing home staff and do countless hours of research to make a decision on the best care a nursing home facility can give your elderly loved one.
Unfortunately, nursing home negligence and abuse is a reality and happens every single day. More often than not, nursing home neglect and abuse go unreported as patients are afraid or don’t understand what is happening to them. A recent national study found that 1 in 3 nursing homes are guilty of neglect and abuse.
Even the most prestigious facility can be culpable in neglecting nursing home patients. Nursing care facilities commonly fall short in the employee screening process, and those who have a criminal record can easily slip through the cracks and be hired.
A federal investigation revealed that an alarming 90% of nursing homes employ one or more people who have been convicted of at least one crime. The investigation also uncovered that 5% of all nursing home employees have at least one criminal conviction. At the end of the day, nursing care facilities are a business and like any other business, they want to profit. Unfortunately, this often leads to the neglect and abuse of nursing home patients.
There are many warning signs of nursing home neglect and abuse. Some are obvious, and some may not be so obvious, so how can you tell if your loved one is being neglected or abused by the facility that you are putting trust in? Knowing these warning signs can help ensure their safety and good care at the facility you took the time in choosing for them.
The following are the most common warning signs of nursing home negligence:
- Unexplained bruising, broken bones, cuts, and bedsores
- Sudden weight loss and dehydration
- Chronic illness and infections
- Mood changes, withdrawal from activities, signs of depression
- Poor hygiene, soiled clothing, infrequent bathing
- Falls, head injuries
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Hazardous living conditions
- The patient left unattended for long periods of time
- Unexplained missing financial funds
- Refusal of a staff member to leave during visitation, limited access to your loved one
If you see any of the warning signs above or you suspect that your elderly loved one has been a victim of nursing home negligence and abuse, contact The Bongiorno Law Firm to learn more about your elderly loved one’s legal rights. We will work diligently to recover the monetary damages for the pain and suffering your loved one has endured.